On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (7)
-
Untitled Article
-
THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1843.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
NEWCASTLE . GLOBIOTJS DEMONSTRATION AT SHEDBON'S EUL On Saturday , the 21 st instant , the largest -meeting that ha * beea held in the North ef England for some years , -was held at the above plaoe . It was arranged that the waring men " on the Northumberland Bide abottia assemble in the Forth at ten o ' clock in the morning , and -walk in procession from thence to the place of meeting , prtceded by the following gentlemen in a coach drawn by four grey horses : —T . S . Dancombe , E « q ^ 5 LP ., Feargus ^ yConnor , Esq ., and W . P . Roberts , Biq ., the friends of the people . Soon after fire o ' clock , large processions of the op-. pressed sons of ton , -with the banners of their respectire « vntT > g » at their head , with various appropriate mottoes , and in . many instance * preceded by excellent lands of music , might be seen vending their way to the gathering ,
The morning wcs very ¦ unfavourabU to « uch a display , It raining constantly from before eight o ' clock BntQ after eleven ; and it 'was doubtful about nice o'clock whether it "would be advisable to e hold an oatdoor meeting or not , on account of the rain . About ten o ' clock the men irexe becoming impatient to proceed to the place of meeting ; and baTing formed themselveB into line , proceeded along Collingwood andHosleystreeta , down Daan-Btreet-sifie , and across the Bridge towards Sheriff-bin ,- 'where they -were to be joined by the men of the Wear and the Tees , and the rest of the ¦ aooBVj of Durham . A person who had observed them crossing the Tyne Bridge tells us that he marked the time they took , and that in close column , at a quickish pace , they took three ^ Barters of an hoar in cressing the Badge , from first to list , in dose succession .
About eleven o ' clock , T . J 3 . Duneombe , Esq ., M . P ., 3 ? . O'Connor , Esq ., and "W . P . Roberts , Esq ., in a carzutge drawn by f oar grey horses , drove at a brisk pace towards the Black Fell , and overtook the latter part of the procession a little beyond Sheriff-hill , and having Blackened their pace , drove in the rear of the proces sion to the place of meeting . They were hailed at several dusters of houses by the road aide , by the wires , daughters , and sweethearts of the working men , apparently atsembled for this purpose , with enraptured cheers , and " may God bless the poor man ' s friends . " The numbers on Sheddon ' s hill were beyond our mots , sanguine expectations . We thought the numbers that passed through Newcastle was great ; but we -had not seen one-third nntO we approached the plase of meeting . We have heard the comber estimated at sixty or eighty thousand . It cleared np by twelve o ' clock , and was a beautiful afternoon .
As the carriage approached the place of meeting , the most deafening cheers emanated from the assembled fS ^ n « . Tv ^« - Having dro ve « p to withsa a few yards of the hustings , the gentlemen alighted and -walked to fha hustings ,. where the Executive of the Miners' Association Were ready to receive them . The cheering continued from the time of their * *» £ M" > g from the carriage until they were safely landed on the hustings ; When it subsided . Mr . John Tulip was unanimously elected to the -Chair . Tie Chairman hntS . y opened the proceedings by expressing a hope that each speaker would get a candid . hearing , whether for , or against such subjects as might fca discussed by the rotating . Mr . T . then railed upon Mr . Harwell , who would move the fist resolution .
Mr . Haswell rose and said , he would not occupy any more of their time than read the resolution , as there were several gentlemen present whom they would be anxious to hear . Mr . WalkSnshaw seconded the motion . The resolution was to the following effect , and was agreed to unanimously : — That , in the opinion of this meeting , it is the duty , as welLas the interest of this Association , to adhere stneUy to the restriction question , as it 1 b essentially necessary to oar -very existence as a society to keep all our members equally employed . *
Mr . Baealey made an excellent speech in support of the resolution , and showed that the reason that lawyers , "bishops , kings , it , had such good wages was not ths quantity of work they - perform , fent because they have » restriction upon their number , which affords Stem better wagw ; whereas if they were as plentiful as Miners , and no better protected by law , they would be equally as badly off . Tha restriction question enables them to live sumptuously erery day ; sad the more yon restrict yourselves , the more yon will be respected , and the better will your condition in life be . Mr . Charltos moved the second resolution , which -Was as follows : — "That a petitien be presented to Parliament , pray-: &uf for a repeal of the export duty np » n coal "
• M > . B . Watson , in a very energetic address , in which he . reverted to the handle which the masters Trcmld make of the export duty , at the next chiding , if i t was not removed before then , he begged to second the resolution Mr . Simpson felt dissatisfied at the resolution , and snored as an amendment : — " Tftut : if this meeting Tecogni * e petitioning Parliawsi , fcb * flat tiling they should petition for would Ve a elaose to give due protection to the labouring man . " The amendment was seconded by one of the meeting whese name did noi transpire . W . P . Boberta , Bsq ., spoke in support of the resolution , and was upon inning greeted with most enthusiastic cheering . The resolution was carried by a large majority . Mr , Mitchell was called upon to move the third refioS&tzon s
•• That in the opinion of this meeting a more safe and efficient system of ventilation , ought to be established by sinking a greater cumber of shafts , and those shafts to 1 > 3 more equally placed ; and that we petition Parliament to obtain that object . " The resolution was briefly seconded by Hr . Livesey , and ably supported by Mr . O'Connor , who reviewed the whole of the resolutions , and congratulated the Miners on the budnew-Eke manner in "wfeicb they did their work ., Se was happj to ase t >> pra assembled In their tens of thou-KBdi that day ; and was extremely happy that one out of the 658 has heard their discussions and was prepared to lay their case not only before the House , but at the
foot of the throne , if it would do them any good . He fully concurred with the whole of their proceedings that day , and eulogised the conduct of Mr . Simpson , in bringing forward his amendment . It showed that the Pitmtn would not be led by the nose ; that they were capable of judging for themselves , and determined to use it . He was sorry that there sbonld be an occasion for such a resolution as the one now before the meeting —that they rf > ould be necessitated to petition for ' the light of heaTen , and liberty to breatfee Ehe air ol the firaiamsnt . But he would stand by the Pitmen , because he believed they were on the right road . Mr . O'Connor -concluded his eloquent speech amidst the thundering applause of the whols meeting . TTw resolution was earned unanimously .
Fourth . " That the present machines for weighing ooals are faulty , and weigh -very much out of truth ; we therefore resolve to petition Parliament to pass a measure compelling "nut *^ Colliers to have machines on the beam and scale principle . " Carried unanimously . Mr . jBeeeley ^ in a very neat speech , presented an addrese from the . Miners of Korthnmberland and Durham to Mr-Dnncombe . On receiving which Mr . Dancombe rose and was greeted with thunders of applause , waving of hats and handkerchiefs , which lasted some time . After the cheering h * d subsided be said , Mr . Chairman and Men of England , 1 have always considered public meetings the cbustitntional right of the inhabitants of these realms , convened for the purpose
of laying the grievances of the oppressed peeple before the legislature , an 3 diarusstng the merits of the grievances complained of —[ immense cheering ) . You know it it your right , and yon know hew tatxerciseit—{ cheers ); as is evident by the manner in which you have ttas day ducuss&d your manifold wrongs . Lord Abinger had saMzhat it was impossible for three or four thousand mm to meet for that purpose peaceably ; but the assembly which stood before him , consisting of some £ fty thousand st the least , gave the lie direct to that libel on the people of England . JVlr . Roberts told you you did not meet to honour me , but to do justice to yourselves . With that sentiment I do fully concur ; yet I rejoice that so large a body of my countrymen baxe confidence in my humble exertions aiding them
jb the aecwnplishmeEt ol that godlike object . Now , gentlemen , what are your grievances ? They are three- ; fold , and bear nearly on the industry of all classes . Tirst , they areburthensome to the common people ; what man could look at the misery which every-where met his eye and doubt the influence of the mono ? -olist on anch a large portion of Use community ? one class pressed against another , and was in the end iBJurious to the whole . You have to complain also of the export duty on coal ; the pasting of-this duty was one of the greatest blunders ever committed by aty administration lord Bowick manfully epposed this duty ; and I gave him all the advantage of my support ia the House of Commens—{ loud caeersj . It was an injury to the € 0 * 1 proprietor , and th » working Miner—it was a grcas Violation of a good principle , and merited the opposition otevery honest Member of the Commons House of Parltammt—{ immense eheericg ) . He wa » glad when in which
¦ he found a case the masters and the -men could so cordially agree for the benefit t > f both ? and he hoped that the union of ihe two mi an omen of ¦ much goed . He knew the men were not williBg } y : refractoij ; f- " ^ if tbe maa era -sroald befriend them , they would win iha affeetints of their -operatives , and reap the benefit of willing labourers . They nad to complain of bad -yenHlaUon , scarcity of shafts , and on the whole an utter absence of protection , which science could afford them for the preservation of their irst What & disgrace to the masters and proprietors of the pits in Northumberland and Durham that husbands , wives , and children had been hurried from tame Into eternity by the selfishness , carelessness , and avari » e of " thfcir el ^ ss . It was the duty of Parliament to protect them from such a wilful exposure of r life to the chance of Instant death . The Government had appointed inspectors of gaols , and of factories ; and hshad no fioobt that ttey would shortly appoist in *
Untitled Article
Bpecton ot Collieries also , provided the Miners would repeatedly lay their grievances before them . He ( Mr . D . ) had this day been informed that the pitmen Buffered immense loss from the use of unjust weight * and measures ; and this was a subject for which legislation should be immediately adapted , not fines . A fine of £ 5 was so punishment to a rich coal proprietor . M en of what is commonly called rank cared nothing for pecuniary fine . Their wealth in that case set the law at defiance ; but be would propose an amendment to such a plan . He would propose for the first offence that the aggressor should reap the benefit of six months en the tread-mill— ( loud cheering ) . He knew how the poor Lancashire operative suffered from the operation of the truck « ystem ; bat of all the plundering ! of the working class he had ever beard ,
nothing came within the range of his knowledge so villainous of itself as the frauds practised on the poor Colliers . He was not here to-day to discuss any great political question , and would therefore content himself by informing them , that he bad , in the absence of Lord Ashley , presented a petition aigned by 20 , 000 Pitmen in Northumberland and Durham , praying for a redress of some of their many wrongs . He asked them to make their condition known Again , They had now the benefit of a talented legal adviser . Let them Biake their statements to him , and he would communicate much valuable information to him { Mr . D . ) which he could not otherwise obtain . He Would most cheerfully concede to their request and be happy to present and support their petitions . Mr . I ) , concluded his exeellent address amidst the meat enthusiastic thunders
of applause , which lasted for several minutes . The thanks of the meeting was -voted to T . S . Dun . combe , Esq ., M . P . ; to Feargus O'Connor , Esq . ; to W . P . Roberts , Esq . ; and to the Chairman . After which the meeting separated .
The Northern Star Saturday, October 28, 1843.
THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , OCTOBER 28 , 1843 .
Untitled Article
THE LEAGUE AND THE ELECTIONS . A great fuss is made just now , by tbe League , because they have managed to return Mr . Pattjson , a ** Liberal , " for the City , in room of Alderman Wood , a " liberal ? deceased . "Their song of triumph" on the occasion is most loud and long : though ordinary folks will be puzzled to see wherein the w trinmph" consists , seeing that they have o&ly saved themselves from defeat , by the returning of one " Liberal" in the room of another 1 It ma ; be , that Mr . Pattison is looked upon as a more decided ** freetrader" than old Sir Matthew Wood ; and that therefore the return of him , ia opposition to Mr . Bailing , the Government candidate , is a"triumph . " But before we can allow it
to be a" triumph " , erenin that sense , we must have ii shewn that Mr . Babino was the representative of , or battled for , the opposite principle : the principle of p&otectioh . In this character he did not appear . He too , was a "free-trader" The only difference between the two men , Paitisok and Baking , was that the one was called a Whig and the other a Conservative : both being opponents of those principles of commercial policy that once made England truly great , because comfortable and happy ; and the abnegation of which has reduced her population to the horrid state in which we new find it , when the workers have to endure such awful misery as to cause them to " wi-b Almighty God to put an end to their sufferings before morning . "
Babiss waB a mere Whig . Follow him home ; run his principles out ; and he is nothing more than a Whig . He was for * fret trade" j though like little Lord John Russell , he had some undefined notions about " finality "; as applying the principles slowly , so as not to throw all into disorder and irretrievable confusion . He was in favour of the New Poor Law ; though he might consent to some modification of the more harsh portions of it , when the necessity was proven . Indeed , he was , in very deed and truth , a Whig ; and his defeat by Pattison , was only the return of one Whig over the head of another Whig , to fill up a vacancy occasioned by the demise of a third Whig . A rare occasion , certainly , for ** songs of triumph" I
The City Election being thus settled , ' public attention is now turned to the one pending at Kendal . In that Borough , which numbers a constituency of nearly three htjsdbed akd pjftt , a vacancy has occurred , through tbe death of a League man , Mr . George William Wood . The League are therefore on the alert again . We are to have another "triumph , " if the League succeed in returning another man in the room of the man they have lost ; and this we are of course to expect , seeing that the League tell us that they have a majority of the three hundred and fifty in their favour !
The most notable matter connected with this Kendal election , is the sort of contest that has already taken place , in the choice of a League candidate . The claims of not less than sir "freetraders " , all panting for a seat , nave been preferred ; and among them , the claims of onr old friend , Goody Thompsos . Poor Old Colowil ! How he is tossed from pillar to post ! How he is
¦ used , and then laughed at ! The Colonel would give Ms ears to be able to write M . P . at the tail of his name : and yet , spite of all his endeavours to the accomplish it , nobody will hare the poor man ! He has cried ** usha wants me" to almost every constituency ia England : but all seem instinctively to shrink from Mm as from & dose connection wish a daft old woman , whom all may pity , at a distance ; and some even seek amusement from her vagaries .
It really ib a hard matter for the poor Colonel to be so used . Hull wouldn ' t have him . Manchester said nay " . When a vacancy was announced for Sb . tffi . eld , and the Colokel -was only talked of , the hitch wi ; h WiM and Pabxeb was got over , or accommodated ; so fearful were the Sheffielders of the threatened invasion . Since then Goody has cast a sheep ' s eye at Sunder land ; and when Ueobcb William Wood was ** gathered to his fathers " , the Kendal men were implored by all that was good and sacred , to gratify the craving ambition of the hawkedabout-but-rejected Colorel . Mother Goose gave him a lift . She begged and prayed that he might not bo disappointed this time ; she gave her guarantee for the Colowel ' s goodness , sqwezeableness—( of which , no donbt , she has had ample
proof)—AST DO-ANriHISG-AAD- £ VBTHING FOS-A-SEAT-ABLEkess , would the Kendal men but return him . Shame on them 1 they have refused ! His claims have been repa dialed—set at nought . Mother Goose ' s tabooing seems , like the Colonel ' s efforts and merits , to be at a discount . He 13 ^ uieily passed over with tbe other five —( to fame unknown)—and he is doomed to drive his pretensions to another market ; whether with any better snecess remains to be seen .
And who have the " Free Traders" of Kendal fixed upon , as most congenial to their feelings and desires ? The anatomist Warbuhtoh 1 Dead Body Bill Warsitrton ! The "Free Trader" in the dead carcasses of the poor ! The cutter-up of the friendless and the unprotected ! The dissecting-law procurer , to enable drunken brutal " students" to"hack , " and " hew , " and " cut , " and " slash" the dead poor , iu the workhouses and the prisons < Amiable candidate ! more amiable constituency ! " Sure such a pair were never seen . "
A great stir has been made by the League , in the City , about bribery . They hare vapoured much about prosecuting for bribery ; and have even offered rewards fox cases to bring before the tribunals . They have spent an uncommon amount of virtuous indignation respecting bribeing practices . Do the League know -why Dead-body-Bill Waxbpbton is without a seat 1 Do they know anything ofBridport ? Bo they know why the cuites-of of the poob had so suddenly to decamp from " the House" ? Do they want cases to go before the tribunals wilh ? If so , how is it that they have overlooked WjiBstmroN and
Bndport ? If their horror of bribery be as pure and as glowing as thej pretend , why have they made Waxbbkios their candidate 1 How do all these things come to psss ! Hs is the last man to bring forward on the * purity of election" principle ! And , talking of bribery , brings to mind that there is , at present , a petition against the return of Bkight John himself , on the ground of bribery and other corrupt practices . Will the League prosecute John , or their own agents , should the cha rges of bribery be brought home ? Will they offer a reward to all who can give evidence ? Wfli they seek to vindicate the
Untitled Article
law ? Will they shew that then new-born zeal against bribery is not sheer affeotation ! We should like to see them try . Before we close , we must again inquire how the £ 100 , 000 is getting on . What are the spoonies doing ! Don't they know the League-men want the M brass" ! If they are to buy elections , and each one cost them as much as the city one has cost , —maugre all ihe denunciations against bribery , —they will need many a £ 100 , 000 before they have half the " House" ! Those who have f aith in that sort of process , ought not to withhold the
means ! Pray let them be forthcoming . The League will apply them ! You need not fear thai Don't , then , be backward . Send in the seat-money . There will a way be found for it all : and when all is again expended , you will have found out the truth and worth of another portion of Chartist policy . It has cost you £ 50 , 000 to find out that it is useless to again petition the present " House ;" and hopeless to expect your w measure' * at its hands . ' u Far-fetched and dear bought is good for ladies" whether in petticoats or breeches ! By all means , then , make your future purchases in the same market !
Now , don t Jet the finders of the League-cash think that we have been bribed to thus urge upon them their duty . We assure them that it is not eo . Onr hands are clean ; though we believe that that is more than many of the Press-gang can say . Our advice to them , to send in their money , is perfectly disinterested . We see a lot of hungry mouths , waiting for the opportunity to swallow a plum . We
know their owners' propensity for mischief , if the feed be not found . They are capable of making away with all that can come to hand : there are also a lot of good easy simple souls , who have more cash than wit , and who are desirous to administer to their " necessities . " It wonld be a pity to dissuade them from their purpose . Let the cash roll in , then , for the sooner the £ 100 , 000 is raised , the sooner will it be spent !! Good luck attend it !
Since the above was in type , we have received the Nonconformist ; and by it we learn that the rejeotion of the seat-seeking Colonel has chagrined the Com * plete Suffrage men very much . They even threaten rebellion . They talk of " starting another candidate ; or that every ' Complete' elector sheuld refuse his vote . " Only think of that ! Why the "Complete " men will be as Toryfied as the " blue-tailed Chartists" just cow , notwithstanding all their horror of Toby-Chabtish ! "Start another man" forsooth : and let in the Toby J Verily we are gettinggon . Tbe " Complete" men are finding out , —what the Chartists have been long proclaiming , —that there is no difference between Whig and Tory , excepting in
name : that both are enemies to a general Suffrage * whether designated "Complete" or Universal . Their pet has been coolly ^ passed over ; rejected . They Bee that the Whigs have no objection to use the "Complete" men in furtherance of Whiggery ; but that Whiggery is not to be used in furtherance of the peculiar schemes and projootB of the * ' Complete " men . This the " Complete" men don't relish very well . They show symptoms of rebellion . They talk ot " Btarting another man "; regardless of the fact that their doing bo may eause the Whig to be " rejected" also ! Bravo * Complete" men . Another leaf out of the Chartist book ! There will be very few left in a short time ; but all will be in general and practical use !
Of course if they do " start another man " , it will be the Colonel . They can hardly think of passing over him of their own accord , and starting another candidate over his head . By all means let him go to see what the Kendalers are like . If he can persuade them to be dressed in Green , bo muoh the better for the " Complete" men ; even though the Green Bhould be turned up with " Yollova . "
Untitled Article
11 A free trader , j named Bateman , who was High Sheriff for the county of Stafford , pays one portion of his men in coals ]; and they have the privilege of trading ' pbbbxy ' tcith any person , > bxcbxt thei ^ master ' s customers ! If they sell one ton to any of his customersj theyj are to be discharged ! One poor unfortunate wretch has twenty tons of coal due to him as wages . He cannot sell them ; therefore his family in compelled ! to starve ! Now , that ia what we call a stunner / " j It is indeed a " stunner . " The time was in England , when this main would have been made to feel , that it waa a " stunner ;* ' for he would speedily have been u stunned" with the power of the law . Now , however , Capital is above the law ; and the Executive is ' powerless in-dealing with its aggressions .
It is not alone with the Coal Kings that the plundering practice obtains . It is prevalent in the manufacturing districts ; and 'in the nail-making counties of Worcestershire and Staffordshire , it is all but universal , . ' Iu the latter plaoe it is likely to lead to an extensive turn-out ; and ] all the world is aware , that the alledged existence of it in Wales has formed a prominent feature in the list of grievances put forth by the Rebeccaites . In all these places where there is o superabundance of labour ; and where the labourers live out of the large towns , tsuck prevails . Nay , it even rears its head in some of the large towns themselves .
What then is to ] be done , to extirpate it 1 Are things to remain as they are \ Is cupidity to be allowed full swing , and no power to interfere ! Surely not . The Bhopkeepers are as much interested in putting the { plundering system down , as the workmen themselves . The system deprives them of custom * It takes | their livelihood out of their hands . It is destructive to both shopkeeper and workman . i Why then don't they unite with the men to enforce the law ? 1 Why don ' t they follow the example of their brethren at Stourbridge , and at Sheffield ! Iu the former plaoe : —
" The suopkeeperg have at length come forward , and formed themselves into a committee to put down if possible the truck fysteai—with erery prospect of doing much good , as a great many of the moneypaying masters have promised to aid them in every possible way they can . They have all the magistratos in their favour . They propose to give every encouragement te ithe men to lay informations against the truck-masters , by giving them employment at xeady money , should they lay informations and lose their work ;! and paying all expences in case of tbe informations failing . "
That is an example worth following . The shopkeepers generally would find their account in it , if they woald act in a similar manner . And why not ? The law is clear and explicit . The power of the truckstebs consists in the poverty and helplessness of their bound slaves . Let the shopkeepers but strengthen the hands of the weak ; let them but defend the defenceless ; and the tbdck system would be shivered to atoms . We have said that the law is dear and explicit * To shew that it is so , and to guide our readers in laying Informations ' against tbdck masters , we shalj here give several of the clauses from the Aot itselfthe 1 st and 2 nd William IV ., o . 37 . We shall give entire tbe 3 rd , 4 th , 5 th , 6 th , and 9 th clauses ; and a portion of the 10 th : —
" III . And be it further enacted , That the entire amount of the wages earned by or payable to auy artificer in any of the trades herein-after enumerated , in respect of any labour by him done in any such trade , shall be actually paid to any such artificer in : the current coin of this realm , and not otherwise ; and every payment made to any such artificer by hid employer , of or in respect of any such wages , by the delivering to him of goods , or otherwise , than in the current coin aforesaid , except as herein-after mentioned , shall be , and is hereby declared illegal , null and void .
" IV . And be it further enacted , That every artificer in any of the trades herein-after enumerated shall be entitled to reoover from his employer iu any such trade , in the manner by law provided for the recovery of servants ' wages , or by any other lawful ways and moans , the whole or so much of the wages earned by such artificers in such trade as shall not have been actually paid to him by such his employer in the current com of this realm . " T . And be it farther enacted , That in any action , suit , or other proceeding to foe hereafter brought er commenced by any such artificer as aforesaid , against his employer ; for the recovery of any Bum of
money due to any such artificer as the wages of his labour in any of the trades herein-after enumerated , the defendant shall not be allowed to make any set-eff , nor to claim any reduction « f the plaintiff ' s demand , by reason or in respect of any goods , wares , or merchandise had or received by the plaintiff as or on account of his wages or in reward for his labour , or by reason or in respect of any goods , wares , or merchandize sold , delivered , or supplied to such artificer at any shop , or warehouse kept by or belonging to such employer , or in the profits of which such employer snail have any share or interest . i
' * VI . And be it further enacted , That no employer of any artificer ia any of the trades herein-after enumerated shall have or be entitled to maintain any suit or action in any court of law or equity against any such artifices , for or in respect of any goods , wares or merchandize sold , delivered , or supplied to any such artificer by any such employer , whilst in bis employment , as or on account of his wages or reward for his labour , or for or in respeot of any goods , wares , or merchaniss sold , delivered , or supplied to such artificer at any shop or warehouse kept by or belonging to such employer ; or in the profits of which such ' employer shall have any share or interest . j
"IX . And be it further enacted , That any employer of any artificer in any of the trades hereinafter enumerated , who shall , by himself or by the agency of any other person or persons , directly or indirectly enter into jany contract or make any payment hereby declared il ' egal , shall for the first offence forfeit a sum not exceeding ten pounds nor less than five pounds , and for the second offence any sum not exceeding twenty pounds nor less than ten pounds ; and in case of a third offence any such , employer shall be and be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor , and , being thereof convicted , shall be punished by fine only , at the discretion of the Court , so that the fines shall not in any case exoeed the sum of one hundred pounds . ]
" X . And be it further enacted , That all offences , committed against this Aot , and not herein-before declared a misdemeanor , shall be enquired of and determined , and that tail fines and penalties for suoh offences shall be sued for and recovered , by any person or persons who shall sue for the same , . before any two Justices of the Peace having jurisdiction , within the county , riding , city , or place in which the offence shall have ! been committed ; and that the amount of the fines , penalties , and other punishments to be inflicted upon any such offenders shall , within the limits herein-before prescribed , be in the discretion of such Justices ; or , in oases of misdemeanor , of the Court before which the offence may be tried . * ' i
Here then is the law . It is simple and effective , if applied . Every case where a workman is paid in goods instead of money , is one of truck : and notwithstanding he may have have had the goods , he can compel the payment in money , and fine the trbcksteb besides . Bring this law generally to bear in one or two districts , and the truck system would speedily disappear . [ " We trust that the Miners Association will direct their attention also to this matter . Their members
in many parts of Scotland are suffering severely from tbe plundering practice . They can , by means of their combination , and their law adviser , " put it down . " In doing soi they will materially serve the Miners generally ; anil the Scotch ones particularly . They can also serve their own Association , at the expence of the enemy . There are cases plenty . A little time spent by an active business man would soon prepare them for the petty sessions court . In all cases , where proven , the wages must be paid ; and a penalty / , within certain limits , must be inflicted also . Say there were three hundred cases ;; and out of them , two
hundred convictions j were obtained ; thb penalties alonh , that MUST be inflicted , would AHOimT to ONE THOUSAND POUNDS ! Would this be nothing ! Tie penalties must be applied either in aid of the county rates ; or a portion to the infonner ,--n 6 t exceeding twenty pounds in any one case , —and the rest to ihe county rates , at thedisoretion ot the Justices . ] Say the Justices gave onefifth of the penalties to the informer ; that would pay for all expenses in getting up the cases , and leave something for the general fund after all . Besides this , see what an amount of money , in the shape of wages , would be put into the pockets of the mea , « That alone ought to ind » ca ( be Associa-|
Untitled Article
tion to take up the matter . By so doing , they wiH materially serve themselves ; and perform their part towards " putting down" a most iniquitous and oppressive system .
Untitled Article
THE LONDON AND SHEFFIELD TYPEFOUNDERS .
Wb have received from this oppressed and persecuted body of British Artizans , a lengthy address expository of their grievances , which at this time of the week , ( Wednesday ) , it is impossible for as to give entire . The ( pith of the document will be found below . We understand that the turn-out still continues , and that the Trades Delegates of London are exerting themselves to assist the turn-euts in establishing a type-foundry for themselves , in opposition to the merciless monopolists who at present have almost the entire of the trade in their owa hands , and are grinding their workmen to the very dust . In thia noble effort we iraat thai the Trades of the
metropolis will heartily support their Delegates . There is no hope for the human race , until the wealthproducers shall be found "taking their affairs into their own hands , " by establishing Co-operative Societies for mutual support and mutual profit . Mastership must be annihilated ere man can be really free : and to effect thiSj the only way is for the operatives to labour for themselves . This they might do by Union ; and until such time as that union exists , the working classes will ever be exposed to the hideous wrong to which the Typefounders are , at this very time , subjected . In the meantime , we earnestly entreat of the Trades of every town throughout the kingdom to afford present aid to the London and Sheffield men . Their
situation is most critical ; and , we trust , will be immediately considered , practically considered , by all who claim " a fair day ' s wage for a fair day ' s work . " The Type-founders complain—1 st Ibat while the type of the present day has been wonderfully Improved over that made bat tea or fifteen year * since , that this improvement has been effected at the expense of the workmen . That the improved typa requires avast deal more of time and labour in the casting and finishing , fir which additional labour no additional remuneration baa been afforded . That while wages have decreased , the cost of moulds and other materials used by tbe workmen have remained nearly the same as formerly .
2 nd . That the trade of Type-founding was introduced into England from Germany , by German workmen , who were content to receive German Wages , and thus established in this country the low prices paid for labour in Germany . That consequently the English workmen have never been able to raise their wages up to the general standard of English prices . And that whenever the workmen have endeavoured to obtain a fair remuneration , the employers have threatened to import Germans to supplaul Ihe English operatives altoge ther !
3 rd . That a combination exists among a few firms to drive out of the market the rest of the employers , men not so wealthy , but more honourable than themselves , to the great injury of the trade , and detriment of the pubUo , and printers in particular . 4 th . That a most infamous system exists of fining the workmen , whenever it Buito the caprice of the employers . That under this system the men have suffered the most galling oppression , and been subjected to the moat rascally of robberies . And that by such means their employers have succeeded in ftmaaaing their piles of plundered wealth .
The address says that" it is impossible for language to describe the amount of long-suffering and misery , or the daily and fruitless attempt of the men to obtain justice , previous to the present turn-out ; bnj the cup of wretchedness was filled to overflowing when , in July , Messrs , Thoeowgood and Bkaslbt , V . and J . Figgins , Caslon , of London , and Stkphenson , Bla * e , and Co . with Bowbb , Bbothebs , of Sheffield , all united to effect a reduction of twenty-three to seventy-five per cent , on our wages , " i . e ., a reduction of the wages ofmenwhoaveraged under 18 j . a week to Twelve Shillinbs !!!
Tho address concludes by soliciting the active sympathy and pecuniary aid of the Trades and Working Classes generally , an appeal which we earnestly hope will be cheerfully and'promptly responded to . A curious fact has come to our knowledge . Mr . Beaslet , the lordly profit-monger , the man who has figured at the Police-office as the vindictive persecutor of his oppressed workmen , is a " Liberal "; nay , more , a Corn Law Repealer ; and was most active iu canvassing for the " League" man , Pattison , shouting at the top of his voice— " No
Monopoly ! " "Down with the Monopolists ! " Truly , this leviathan profit-monger is a precious specimen . of the " cheap bread and high wages" school ! It "there were any dupes of that school amongst tho Type-Founders , surely the pranks of such mouthing hypocrites ] as Beaslet , and Co ., will open their eyes . When the working classes shall , by co-operation , labour for their own interests , and prodnce for their own enjoyment ; and when that labour shall be protected by just and equal laws , securing to the workman the fruits of his skill and toil ; when , in short , the Charter is law , and the people have the good sense to say to tbe speculators is industry and
the traffickers in human bone 3 and smews , " stand ye apart and govern yourselves , but no longer rule us , or presume to direot our energies , " then will the Beaslet's be brought to their proper level , Twelve shillings a-week , and Bbaslet a Corn Law Repealer ! Forget not that , working-men I particularly ye Sheffield Type-Founders , vrho may soon have an opportunity to say whether you are for the pbotection of tour inoustry or not ; and if so , how thai protection is to be obtained . Think upon your " no monopoly" friend and then say whether you will again hold up your hands on the side of the" cheapbread" hypocrites . fr
Untitled Article
IS CHARTISM DEAD ! Mother Goose , is her midnight lucubrations , has often dreamed of seeing the giant , Chartism , consigned to " the tomb of all the Capulets" ; and as often has her affected dolorous voice chaunted its requiem . But still she is doomed , on every public occasion , to see the giant walk forth in might and majesty , with increased strength and more emboldened front . Alas ! poor Goosey . You are too premature in the assumption of your office of sexton . The hole you have dag in your dreams , is an omen of your own approaching dissolution ; a sign of y « ur speedy return to your original nonentity .
This Goosey knows full well . The thought preys upon her mind . Her midnight visions are replete with the melancholy produced by realities ; and she awakes , with soul perturbed , exclaiming— " Th * Chaetek 'a Dead !" ¦ Sh e would fain persuade other people to think bo too . The " people are losing confidence in Feabqus O'Connor . " " The attendance on Mr . O'Comnob , ' * lecture was very meagre , compared with former times . " " What i ' a falling off was there . " And all this , at the time that Mr . O'Connor ' s progress throughout the country is attended with proofs of success never before exhibited !
But if Mr . O'Conheb's audiences are ** falling off , " what are we to say respecting poor Bkggs , the "Complete" advocate . At Leeds Mr . O'Connor and the Chartists , though Chartism is dead , can , for three nights together , fill the Large Room of the Commercial Buildings ; and leave a considerable surplus , after paying very heavy expences of rent , See ; while the "intellectuals , ' * even when Bbgos visited them , were forced to bury themselves in a little parlour , in the yard of the Black Boy Inn ; a small room that tbe Chartists had to leave because of ita smallness , some six years ago ! At Bradford , Mr . O'Connob could fill the Odd-Fellows' jHall , and leave
the Chartists £ 8 ia hand , after all expenoea were paid while Beggs was left starving in a smalt room , for want of auditors . At Huddewfield Mr O'Connob filled the Philosophical Hall , and nwle , according to the Bradford Observer , " the only clever Bpeech he « ver made . in his life ; ' \ while poor Brass was stuck in the Guild-hall with an audience of seventy ; and those too mainly Chartists , who had gone to see what the Complete" man was like . If therefore Chwkism > down , ipTay > a « & is C&w . pleleiml
Untitled Article
4 THE NORTHERN STAB .
Untitled Article
THE COAL KINGS AND THEIR LAWBREAKINGS . THE TRUCK SYSTEM . We do not hear that the Duke of Hamilton has been made to " ejecf the more than sixty females , who are working in his coal works , at Bedding , and employ men in their stead ; or that the Carron Iron Company have been forced to obey thi law , and dispense with the services of the more than one hundred females that they employ . We do not , bear that any steps have been taken to compel the Magis ~ trales and Fiscal * to enforce the law ; that law which they have refused to administer .
24 ow , this state of things is most scandalous . It reflects the greatest disgrace upon all tho " Authorities , " from Sir James Gbaham downward , to the sycophantic Fiscal of Falkirk ; who dare not act against the GREAT Duke of Hamilton , but who is content—for a consideration—to wink at hie illegaj practices , and refuse to enforce the positive requirements of an Aot of Parliament , even when called upon by the illegally-oppressed to do so . Sir James Graham cannot pleadfignorance of this shameful disregard of law . His attention has been called thereto more than once .
Wb have brought the facts before his notice a many times ]; and though he might be inclined to disregard what appears in the Northern Star , yet the facts have been placed before him in a legitimate manner . He has been memorialised on the subjeot . Tne following will give the . ireader an ^ idea . of the nature of the memorial : — 41 Falkibk . —The memorial to Sir James Graham from the colliers of this place , was forwarded to him a short time ago , with a great number of signatures attached thereto . The memor al stated that females were being employed in the Duke of Hamilton ' s pits
at Redding , aad by the Carxon Iron Company at Carron-hall . It also stated that although informations had been kid before the Fiscal and Sheriff of the county , and magistrates , that they would not interfere to vindicate the law , though they knew it was being daily and openly violated ; and it called upon tho Home Secretary to cause an immediate inquiry to be instituted into the allegations contained in the memorial ; to the truth of which the memorialists were ready to testify on oath . As yet no answer
has been returned . The men here are determined to leave no stono unturned to cause tbe law to be carried out , and the women removed from the pits : for not only is the Duke of Hamilton , and the Carron Company employing females , but a Magistrate of the County , at Glen End , of the name of Mr . LaTmont I -Your correspondent also lately saw two women coming from the pits in their pit clothes at Clackmannan . These coal works belong to an Englishman of the name of Wilson . "
Now , what answer has Sir Jambs Graham given ? Has he directed the Lord Lieutenant to inform the Magistracy that the law must be obeyed ; even though the enforcement of it should entangle the Lous Lieutenant himself in ita meshes 1 Has he directed the Fiscal to proceed 1 Has he , in fine , taken any steps to enforce the law ; or is he too , content to wink at its daily violation , because the Duke of Hamilton is a culprit !
Let Sir James Gbaham read and attend to the following ; and then let him say what is to be done . At all events , if he will not move , we must try to get some one to move . The Act , prohibiting the employment of . females , has been passed for the purpose of protecting weak and almost defenceless labourers against the inhumanities and degrading subjections of the hard-hearted , unfeeling , Capitalist . That measure of pbotection shall not be a dead letter ! If the law is to be powerful to oppress and persecute the poor , when it has hold of them—ii shall , as far as possible be made to restrain the rich , while the restraint exists ! When the Colliers '
Protection Act passed , we beard a great deal about the necessity of Protection ; and of the wisdom , policy , and justice of the strong arm of power interfering to prevent the continuance of that scandal and disgrace upon our common species , dragged to light by ihe Labourers * Employment Commission . The law authorising this interference was passed amid the acclamations of all parties . It was hailed as a boon to the poor miners ; those who go into the bowels of the earth , and endure hardships , and brave danger , to procure means of comfort for the more fortunate portions of the community , is all the virtuous indignation then , ex-
Untitled Article
pressed to go for nought \ Is the soon to be a mockery ! Is the promised protection to be a fiction < Is the law to be trodden under foot 1 And is the great law breaker still to be retained in the Commission , as Lord Lieutenant of a County ! But to our story . The Miners' Association have Agknts in different parts of the country , to plead the cause of " Union" amongst the working Miners in all parts ; and to shew them the advantages to be derived from a general legal combination
to protect miners' labour from the aggressions and assaults of capital . These agents have been of immense service to the community at large independently * of their own immediate purposes . ' They have been the means of dragging to light a vast amount of oppression and tyranny , practised in dark corners and far-awayflplaces . Amongst other things , they have exposed the practices of the Duke f Hamilton , the Carron Iron Coup any , and many individual Coal-owners , who live in the habitual
violation of law . Some time ago two of these agents were in the neighbourhood of Mrdtie , in Scotland ; in the several localities of which they held meetings of the working Miners . At one place they state : — " As ' they proceeded on their way to a meeting , they were told that the employers were intending to apprehend them . On inquiring who were intending them this piece of kindness , the reply was— ' Mr . Mangle , the manager at White Ridge Colliery . ' They proceeded to the meeting , however , unmolested ; but it may not be amiss to shew why this worthy is an enemy to union . In defiance of tub law , he is
employing females to a considerable extent both at White Midge Mines and Rosehall Collieries ; both belonging to Messrs . Miller and Aidie . These worthies were some time ago summoned before the Magistrates at Airdrie , to ^ answer a charge of employing females in their pits , contrary to the Act . Thb Magistrates dismissed the case on thb gbound that none but the fiscal was entitled to prosecute ; AND THB FISCAL WILL NUT PROSECUTE i If a poor Miner Was to break his oontraoc with his employer , the case would not be dismissed ! The Magistrates of Airdrie would have * jurisdiction' then !"
Now what is to be done 1 Will not Sir James Gbaham interpose \ Then some one else must ! This shameful disregard of the law for Protection muat not be permitted to continue . Our advice is this : that the Convention , or the Executive , of the Colliers Union , instruct their active and talented legal adviser to repair to Falkirk , and get up oases against the Duke of Hamilton and the Carron Iron Company ; that he take the necessary steps to cause these cases to be laid before the Fiscal
and the Magistrates ; that he require them to put in exeoution the requirements and penalties of the aot ; and that i * they again eeiuse , he prepare to appeal to the higher courts , to force them to do their duty . If this course be taken , we believe it will eventuate in the assertion of the " majesty of the law , " even over the lawless Di / Kjsof Hamilton . It will enforce tbe law of protection ; and read a lesson to all other law-breaking Coal-King tyrants throughout the kingdom .
It is a matter that the miners' union should , in our opinion , immediately look to . The labour of females , degrading and debasing to them as it is , is resorted to , because of its cheapness . That labour is thus brought into competition with the labour of the males . - Wherever a female is employed , a male is tupcrceded . Thus a surplus is caused in the Miners ' s "labour market . " How can they hope to maintain wages , under such circumstances ? Remove the females ; keep them at home to look after their families ; decrease the pressure on the labour market ;
and there is then some chanoe ot a higher rate of wages being enforced . The Miners , therefore , even on this , the lowest ground we can take , are called upon , in obedience to the dictates of interest , to enforce the prohibitory clauses of the Act against the employment of females in mining operations . We therefore trust ; and we hereby loudly request ; that they iill take tbis matter in hand , and prosecute it to a successful issue . In so doing , we are sure they will serve the Miners in particular , and do service to the country generally .
THE TRUCK SYSTEM . It is not alone in the employment of females that the CoAL-KiNea are in the habit of daily disregarding the law . Other laws are continually set at nought . The truok system very generally abounds . Not content with reducing the wages of the poor toiling Miner to the lowest possible point ; not content with the perfect vassalage which the system of ¦ onds induces ; not content with increasing the size and capacity of the ' * tubs" ; not content with the
cheating practice of " settmg-out : " not content with ail these means and appliances of oppression , the tender-eouled Coal-Kings , baying an eye to interest , can not even let the poor bound slave expend his thrice-earned pittance where he likes ; but he is / orcee / , —( he knows the penalty)—to take it to the track shop ; and there be again robbed to the extent of one quarter of his income ! Nor is this latter praotico confined to one locality . It abounds all over the kingdom ! Tbe law passed to repress it is a dead letter . It is set at naught .
Even-the Duke of Hamilton ' s district is not free from this curse . Even there , it is in full vogue . His "Grace , '' as Lord Lieutenant , has been memorialised on the subject ; and called upon to do bis uttermost to enforce the law against truck . It is needless to say that the Duke has taken no such steps . Living in the constant violation of the law himself , how cau he dare to attempt te force the law on others !
Tho following hand-bill will enable the public to form some sort of idea of the plundering resorted to by the keepers of " Tommy Shom , " upon the poor werkies ; 6 ound to their counters . We give it just as we have received it . It haa been sent us by a friend . Mr . Steel knows nothing of it ; but will , no doubt , be surprised to see his address so prominently set forth , and suoh an advertisement given him "for nothing . " The Bill , however , ib a Btartling exposure of the " truck" robbing practices : —
** Important Information . —The public of Coatbridge and neighbourhood will do well to stop and read Steel ' s comparison of prices of provision : —
Prices generally charged Prices geneby the Store rally charged belonging to at Steel's Prothe Iron ano vision Stores . Coal Masters Qatmeal , per peck 9 d 8 d Potatoes , do Oj < i 8 d Barley dp 12 ct Sd to lOd Flour , do 12 d 8 d to lOd Butter per pound lid 6 d to 9 d Cheese do ... 7 d to 8 d 4 $ d to 6 id Bacon , Sam , do 6 d 4 d to 4 ^ d Beef , Ham , do 8 d 4 d to 7 a Tea , per cz . : 51 S ^ d Tobacco , per do 3 *» 3 U Salt Herring , per lb . ... 2 U Id Brown Soap , do . ... ... 6 £ d 5 d to 6 £ d Whisky per gill 4 et 3 d Four lb . fine loaf ... ... 7 d 5 &d
" It is a well known fact that tbe working classes , in general , pay too little attention to the savings effected in the purchase of provisions . That such is the case in general to tbe Colliers and Miners of Coatbridge and neighbourhood , ia without doubt . In most oases , worker * dealing with the Stores belonging to their employers might easily save four Bhitlirgs per pound in expending that amount . Such a saving ia these times of depression , and low wages , ia cextaioly of the utmost consequence , and would go fat to remedy vatioua
grievances which the working classes are daily labouring under . A workman with three shillings per day , and at liberty to lay out his earnings to those who supply him cheapest , would then find himself better off than with three shillings and sixpence under the present restrictive truck system . ; In order to open the eyes of the suffering industrious cjasaea of Coatbridge and neighbourhood to tbis important fact , the above comparison of prices ia respectfully submitted for their perusal , by AM > R £ W Steel , wholesale and retaij provision dealer , Coatbridge . ' *
There ! that Bill tells its own tale . It needs no comment ; not even explanation . It sufficiently explains itself ; and an explanation of infamous practices it is . From another part of the country , Stafford , we learn of similar practices pursued by the Coal Kings . One case we will mention . It is a very peculiar one . We have it from a man on whose veracity we can depend : —
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 28, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct825/page/4/
-